With its pristine jungle, nature theme parks, unspoiled bay, undersea wrecks and World War II relics, Subic is “ready and raring” to be a partner in government efforts to promote eco-tourism and adventure tours.

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza, adventure tourism is one sector where the Subic Bay Freeport “naturally excels.”

“We’ve had these adventure attractions since day one because of Subic’s well-preserved environment, and we keep on improving on them ever since,” Arreza said.

“If tourists would come looking for some adventure during their vacation, Subic is ready and raring to give them some,” he said.

Arreza pointed out Subic’s advantages in adventure tourism as the Department of Tourism (DOT) set its sights on a nationwide campaign to promote eco-tourism and adventure tours in the country and make the Philippines the best adventure destination in Asia.

DOT Secretary Joseph Ace Durano started this initiative under the aptly-named “Adventure Philippines Campaign,” a program that also seeks to provide tourism stakeholders an overview of the outdoor recreation industry, along with the benefits for generating more employment.

The program also aims to foster networking capacity and working relationship between travel service providers and suppliers.

Under the program, the DOT will conduct a seminar on adventure tourism at the Hotel Stotsenberg in the Clark Freeport Zone on June 3 to 5.

An actual adventure travel to Subic Bay Freeport’s rainforests is set on the last day, wherein the participants will visit Subic’s jungle-themed parks, its wildlife sanctuary, and experience jungle adventure facilities here like “canopy ride” and “slide for life.”

“We want the whole world to know that in the Philippines, especially here in Subic Bay, tourists can experience the most adventurous vacation they could ever have,” Arreza said.

He added that the SBMA, in coordination with the DOT, has also started an accreditation program for hotels and other tourism establishments in Subic “to raise standards to world-class levels.”

“We want to create a positive awareness for the country among our foreign visitors, so improving our facilities and services to complement our exciting outdoor adventure attractions is one initiative we’ve been doing for the past two years,” he added.

According to the SBMA Tourism Department, Subic is poised to attract more local and foreign tourists this year, with the recent opening of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), a 94-kilometer four-lane highway that connects Subic to the neighboring Clark Freeport and other industrial areas in Northern Luzon.

Data compiled by SBMA tourism indicated a 26 percent increase in hotel occupancy when the SCTEX was opened for a trial run during the recent Holy Week.

Eight of the hotels and housing providers in Subic said that the were fully booked during the said five-day period, while seven other hotels showed occupancy rates of 90-98 percent. The average occupancy rate for the 32 hotels in Subic that time was 84 percent, compared to a mere 58.31 percent in the same period last year.

Arreza said the DOT’s Adventure Philippines campaign could prove to be a boom to tourism attractions in the Subic Bay area because of the easier access provided by the SCTEx.

“The jungles and beaches and parks in Subic are waiting to be explored and enjoyed. And the good thing is, they’re now just a short drive away,” he said.

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